Imagine a morning commute that doesn’t involve a bottleneck on Rogers Avenue or a slow crawl across the Arkansas River. Instead, picture a tech worker in Van Buren or a manufacturing specialist in Fort Smith hopping onto an e-bike, following a paved trail through the River Valley, and arriving at work energized rather than stressed.

That vision isn’t futuristic — it’s the foundation of Arkansas’s 2025–2030 Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan (SCORP), themed “Connecting the Natural State.” And for the River Valley, it represents something bigger than new parks or prettier trails. It signals a fundamental shift in how the state views economic development.

Outdoor recreation is no longer being treated as a weekend amenity. It’s being positioned as infrastructure — one capable of attracting high-wage jobs, reshaping how people move through cities, and redefining the River Valley’s role in Arkansas’s future economy.

For decades, the River Valley has been Arkansas’s industrial backbone, anchored by manufacturing, logistics, and distribution. Those roots remain strong. But state planners are now pairing that legacy with a new growth strategy: using outdoor recreation and active transportation to attract a “knowledge workforce” — skilled professionals who choose where to live based on quality of life, not just pay.

The numbers explain why. Outdoor recreation generates more than $4.5 billion annually in Arkansas and supports roughly 41,000 jobs. Nationally, the state now ranks 4th in outdoor product manufacturing, with average wages in that sector running about 20% higher than the statewide average.

In other words, trails aren’t just “nice to have.” They’re becoming a competitive advantage — one that helps cities recruit employers who bring higher-paying, longer-term jobs.

This shift isn’t abstract policy. It affects how daily life works in the River Valley.

Over the next five years, projects aligned with the SCORP framework are expected to influence where new employers choose to locate, how neighborhoods connect to job centers, and how residents move without relying entirely on cars.

For families, that means safer routes for kids to bike or walk to parks and schools. For workers, it means shorter, healthier commutes and expanded job opportunities tied to outdoor manufacturing, logistics, and tourism-adjacent industries. For homeowners, it often translates into increased demand for neighborhoods near connected trail systems.

The larger change is competitive. Cities like Fort Smith and Van Buren are no longer competing solely on tax incentives or available land. They’re competing on livability - where trails, sidewalks, and community spaces are now part of the same economic conversation as industrial parks and workforce training.

The most visible example of this strategy in action is the Bass Reeves Legacy Loop.

In January 2025, Fort Smith secured a $24.9 million federal RAISE grant to construct more than nine miles of new active transportation infrastructure. When complete, the project will form a 14-mile loop of paved, shared-use paths connecting schools, neighborhoods, downtown landmarks, and cultural sites.

City leaders describe the project as an investment in people as much as infrastructure — designed to reduce vehicle-pedestrian conflicts while separating cyclists and joggers from traffic. Estimates suggest that more than 20% of Fort Smith residents will live within a half-mile of the loop once completed.

It’s a transportation project, a safety initiative, and an economic development tool rolled into one.

Across the river, Van Buren is pursuing a complementary strategy through its 2025 Parks and Recreation Master Plan.

At the center of that plan is a proposed 61,000-square-foot community center and aquatics facility, with an estimated construction cost of $34.2 million. The facility is envisioned as a regional destination — not just for recreation, but for workforce quality-of-life recruitment.

The plan also tackles a key weakness. As recently as 2019, Van Buren had zero miles of dedicated bikeways on its collector streets. The new vision calls for 41.8 miles of bikeways and 32.5 miles of sidewalks, prioritizing connections to major destinations like Lee Creek Park and Colley Park.

Together, Fort Smith and Van Buren are laying the groundwork for a truly connected regional system — one that aligns local projects with statewide goals.

The SCORP doesn’t ignore challenges. It identifies five persistent barriers that must be addressed if outdoor recreation is to benefit everyone:

There’s also a strategic gap. Arkansas has created Natural State Initiative (NSI) Economic Opportunity Zones, offering payroll tax credits to outdoor manufacturers near certain state parks. Currently, the nearest zone is at Queen Wilhelmina State Park in Mena — meaning Fort Smith and Van Buren must compete for these employers without the same incentives, at least for now.

State leaders are increasingly branding the corridor from Lake Fort Smith State Park south toward the Ouachitas as an emerging “Adventure Corridor.” The goal is to compete not just with Northwest Arkansas, but with neighboring states.

By tying municipal trail systems into the broader statewide network, the River Valley stops being a place people pass through on their way to the mountains. It becomes a place where they live, work, and stay.

Funding windows tied to the 2025–2030 SCORP are opening now — not years from now. Communities with established master plans, mapped corridors, and public support are best positioned to secure grants and partnerships.

The momentum built today will determine how much of Arkansas’s next wave of outdoor-driven investment lands in the River Valley — and how much goes elsewhere.

This article sets the stage for a series of in-depth explainers on your Answer Site, including:

Together, they tell a larger story: how outdoor infrastructure is quietly reshaping the River Valley’s future.

The SCORP is Arkansas’s five-year strategic plan that guides how the state invests in parks, trails, and outdoor infrastructure. The 2025–2030 plan focuses on “active transportation,” economic development, and connecting communities through trail networks rather than treating recreation as a standalone amenity.

State planners now view trails, parks, and outdoor infrastructure as tools for attracting high-wage employers and skilled workers. Companies increasingly consider quality-of-life factors—like walkability, bike access, and nearby recreation—when deciding where to locate operations and recruit talent.

The River Valley is positioned to benefit from statewide funding priorities because of major local projects like the Bass Reeves Legacy Loop in Fort Smith and Van Buren’s Parks and Recreation Master Plan. These initiatives align closely with SCORP goals, making the region competitive for grants and long-term investment.

The Bass Reeves Legacy Loop is a planned 14-mile paved, shared-use trail system in Fort Smith funded in part by a $24.9 million federal RAISE grant. It will connect neighborhoods, schools, cultural sites, and downtown areas while improving pedestrian and cyclist safety.

Expanded trail networks can reduce car dependency for short trips, improve safety for pedestrians and cyclists, and create healthier commuting options. For residents, this can mean shorter travel times, safer routes for children, and more accessible recreational opportunities close to home.

Van Buren’s 2025 Parks and Recreation Master Plan includes a proposed 61,000-square-foot community center and aquatics facility, along with more than 40 miles of new bikeways and expanded sidewalk connections. The goal is to link neighborhoods with regional parks and activity hubs.

While results vary by neighborhood, studies consistently show that homes located near connected trail systems and walkable amenities often experience increased demand. Cities view this as a long-term benefit that can strengthen tax bases without raising rates.

The SCORP identifies five main barriers: income limitations, physical accessibility for people with disabilities, lack of free time, social isolation, and safety concerns. Addressing these issues is critical to ensuring new infrastructure benefits all residents, not just a small segment of the population.

NSI Opportunity Zones offer payroll tax credits to outdoor manufacturing businesses that locate near certain state parks. These incentives are designed to encourage job creation, though the nearest zone to the River Valley is currently in Mena.

Mena has become a pilot area for large-scale outdoor recreation investment, including trail infrastructure and lift-assisted mountain biking. The state is using the region to test how outdoor recreation can drive tourism and manufacturing growth.

In a sense, yes. Arkansas is intentionally branding multiple regions as outdoor destinations. The River Valley’s advantage lies in combining industrial strength, logistics access, and emerging trail connectivity rather than relying solely on tourism.

Funding and grant decisions tied to the 2025–2030 SCORP are happening now. Communities with clear plans, public support, and shovel-ready projects are more likely to secure investment. Momentum built in the next few years will shape the region’s economic trajectory for decades.